Systems for producing advanced carbon materials at carbon source locations

ABSTRACT

A method of producing advanced carbon materials can include extracting a coal sample from a location, performing a spectral analysis on the coal sample, determining one or more desired advanced carbon materials based at least in part on spectral analysis, extracting an amount of coal from the location, beneficiating the amount of coal, and processing the beneficiated amount of coal to produce the one or more desired advanced carbon materials from at least some of the amount of coal.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/610,037 filed on 22 Dec. 2017, titled “Methods for Producing Advanced Carbon Materials from Coal,” the disclosure of which is incorporated herein, by reference, in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Coal has been mined and used for a variety of purposes for thousands of years. Since the industrial revolution, the primary use for coal has been to generate heat and energy to power homes, industry, and transportation. Coal initially found widespread use as a transportation fuel for trains during the industrial revolution, but the advent of cars and the discovery of large petroleum deposits near the turn of the twentieth century precipitated a shift towards the primacy of liquid, petroleum-based fuels for transportation.

Research on coal continued, however, and the basic chemistry of coal was well understood by at least the early twentieth century. Significant research was conducted with the aim of deriving liquid transportation fuels from coal in order to supplant petroleum. One notable breakthrough was the development of the Fischer-Tropsch process in Germany around 1925, which converted gasified coal into liquid hydrocarbons. Other commercial interests built upon this technology, including Sasol, a major South African company. Sasol's work focused on the conversion of solid coal to liquid transportation fuels via catalytic cracking. However, research continued to drive petroleum technology forward as well, and the use of coal to produce liquid transportation fuels at large scales never became economically feasible.

In 1973, the oil crisis prompted the United States Department of Energy to initiate a renewed research effort into developing coal-based transportation fuels to serve as a homegrown alternative to petroleum-based fuels. Over a span of two decades, billions of dollars were spent in an attempt to effectively crack coal. As the Department of Energy poured money into these research projects, oil prices began a steady decline that would also last almost twenty years. Eventually, the falling price of petroleum dulled the impetus for these governmental programs and large-scale production of transportation fuels from coal was never fully realized.

China became the next hotbed for coal liquefaction research in the nineteen-nineties and through the early years of the new millennium. Sitting on vast coal fields, and possessing a relative dearth of oil reserves, China was focused on developing a reliable source of liquid transportation fuels for its increasingly mobile population. However, China's research into coal liquefaction dove-tailed with advances in electric vehicles, green power, and an increasing environmental consciousness. Again, it does not appear that the large scale use of coal for transportation fuels will be realized.

Throughout history, numerous other products have been derived from coal. For example, many novel and high-value byproducts have been identified and developed from the feedstock as well as from the byproducts generated from the modification and combustion of coal as well as the extraction of carbon from coal. These second, third and fourth generation coal products and byproducts may be more valuable than the input natural resource as ingredients in the manufacture of shingles, asphalt, mascara, printer ink, organic oils, organic solvents, fuel, graphene, carbon fiber, water filters, air filters and dialysis filters. Further, coal derived products have usage in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, healthcare, cosmetics, construction, and nearly every other existing industry.

While improvements in the derivation of fuels and other products from coal are being explored, there is a need for new methods and apparatuses for the processing of the productive elements in coal, such as carbon, and the production of existing and new intermediary and end-use materials from these elements. Further, as carbon-based technologies continue to advance, there is a need for carbon materials that include new and different material properties and characteristics.

SUMMARY

According to some aspects of the present disclosure, methods of producing an advanced carbon material can comprise extracting a coal sample from a location, performing a spectral analysis on the coal sample to determine one or more of a hydrogen to carbon ratio of the coal sample, a concentration of a contaminant in the coal sample, and a concentration of water in the coal sample, determining one or more desired advanced carbon materials based at least in part on one or more of the hydrogen to carbon ratio of the coal sample, the concentration of a contaminant in the coal sample, and the concentration of water in the coal sample, extracting an amount of coal from the location, beneficiating the amount of coal, and processing the beneficiated amount of coal to produce the one or more desired advanced carbon materials from at least some of the amount of coal.

In some cases, performing a spectral analysis can include performing one or more of mass spectrometry, Raman spectroscopy, and x-ray spectroscopy. Beneficiating the amount of coal can include removing a desired amount of water from the amount of coal. Beneficiating the amount of coal includes removing a desired amount of one or more contaminants from the amount of coal. Beneficiating the amount of coal can include decreasing the hydrogen to carbon ratio of the coal by a desired amount. The advanced carbon material can have a hydrogen to carbon ratio lower than the hydrogen to carbon ratio of the sample. The advanced carbon material can have a hydrogen to carbon ratio of less than about 0.2. Processing the beneficiated amount of coal can include producing and capturing H₂. The advanced carbon material can include one or more of carbon fiber, graphene, mesophase pitch, and activated carbon.

According to some aspects, methods of producing an advanced carbon material can comprise extracting a coal sample from a location, performing a spectral analysis on the coal sample to determine one or more of a hydrogen to carbon ratio of the coal sample, a concentration of a contaminant in the coal sample, and a concentration of water in the coal sample, characterizing one or more processes based at least in part on one or more of the hydrogen to carbon ratio of the coal sample, the concentration of a contaminant in the coal sample, and the concentration of water in the coal sample, and performing the one or more processes on coal extracted from the location to produce the advanced carbon material.

In some cases, performing the one or more processes can include reducing the hydrogen to carbon ratio of at least some of the amount of coal. Performing the one or more processes can include removing a desired amount of one or more contaminants from the amount of coal. The advanced carbon material can include one or more of pitch, carbon fiber, graphene, and activated carbon. The advanced carbon material can have a hydrogen to carbon ratio of less than about 0.2.

According to some aspects, methods of producing an advanced carbon material can comprise beneficiating an amount of coal at a processing facility to remove a desired amount of impurities therefrom, processing the beneficiated coal at the processing facility to produce an advanced carbon material or advanced carbon material precursor, capturing one or more byproducts at the processing facility while beneficiating or processing the coal, and repeating one or more of beneficiating and processing the coal using the captured byproducts to produce the advanced carbon material or advanced carbon material precursors. In some cases, the byproducts can include one or more of CO₂ and H₂. The advanced carbon material can include one or more of pitch, carbon fibers, graphene, and activated carbon.

According to some aspects, methods of producing an advanced carbon material can comprise performing one or more processes on a first amount of coal at a processing facility to reduce a hydrogen to carbon ratio of at least some of the first amount of coal, capturing one or more byproducts at the processing facility while performing the one or more processes on the first amount of coal, and performing one or more processes on a second, different amount of coal at the processing facility using the one or more captured byproducts to reduce a hydrogen to carbon ratio of at least some of the second amount of coal. In some cases, the byproducts can include one or more of CO₂ and H₂. Performing one or more processes on the first or second amount of coal reduced the hydrogen to carbon ratio of at least some of the first or second amount of coal to about 0.2 or lower.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate various embodiments of the present apparatus and are a part of the specification. The illustrated embodiments are merely examples of the present apparatus and do not limit the scope thereof.

FIG. 1 illustrates a process flow diagram of an example of a method of producing advanced carbon materials from coal, in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a process flow diagram of an example of a method of producing advanced carbon material from coal including a pyrolysis process, in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a process flow diagram of an example of a method of producing advanced carbon material from coal including a direct liquefaction process, in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates a process flow diagram of an example of a method of producing advanced carbon material from coal including an indirect liquefaction process, in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates a material flow diagram of an example of a method of producing advanced carbon materials from coal, in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates a process flow diagram of an example of a method of producing graphene from coal, in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 illustrates a diagram of energy and material flows for the production advanced carbon materials, in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 illustrates a process flow diagram of the production of advanced carbon materials from raw coal, in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 illustrates a process flow diagram of the production of products including advanced carbon materials from raw coal, in accordance with the present disclosure.

Throughout the drawings, identical reference numbers designate similar, but not necessarily identical, elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Although significant research has been conducted on coal liquefaction and the use of coal to form other products for more than a century, the focus has long been on increasing the hydrogen to carbon ratio of coal, in order to form these products. In contrast, the ability to produce carbon based products that have a lower hydrogen to carbon ratio than the initial coal remains an open question. In recent years, carbon-based technologies have come to the forefront, with rapid developments being made in in the commercialization of advanced carbon materials such as carbon fiber, graphene, and carbon nanotubes, materials with extremely low hydrogen to carbon ratios. As these advanced materials are increasingly used in mass produced, high volume applications, there is a need to quickly and economically supply large quantities of advanced carbon materials to manufacturers.

As described below, advanced carbon materials can be produced from raw, mined coal. Certain compositions of raw coal, however, can be more suited to producing different advanced carbon products. For example, some types of coal can contain impurities or other contaminants that can actually be desirous to include in the final advanced carbon material formed from the coal. In other cases, the amount of water in the coal, the hydrogen to carbon ratio of the coal, and other compositional properties of the coal can make the coal more suitable to forming one or more types of advanced carbon materials. Additionally, certain compositional properties of the coal, such as impurity content, can actually result in an improvement of one or more desirable properties of an advanced carbon product formed from the coal.

Accordingly, in some cases, methods for forming advanced carbon materials or products described herein can include analyzing the composition of coal, for example via spectroscopy, spectrometry, chemical methods, gravimetry, other methods, or combinations thereof. Indeed, any methods for determining the composition of coal, such as the elemental composition, the concentration of impurities, water, and the like, can be used. In some cases, the composition of the raw coal can be analyzed in situ. That is, the raw coal can be analyzed before extraction of the coal for production purposes occurs.

In some examples, one or more cores can be extracted from the location of the in situ raw coal in order to perform such an analysis. For example, a coal seam can be identified and small portions of the coal in the seam, in the form of drilled cores, can be extracted and analyzed as described herein. In some cases, the cores can be extracted from one location in the seam. In other cases, however, multiple cores can be extracted from a variety of locations in the coal seam so that compositional changes along the coal seam can be detected. While drilled cores can be extracted from raw coal while in situ, or in the ground, any method or combination of methods for extracting raw coal samples from one or more locations can be used.

In some examples, the information obtained by analyzing one or more samples of raw coal can be used determine a desired advanced carbon material or materials to be formed from the raw, in situ, or unmined coal. In some examples, the concentration of water in the coal, the concentration of hydrogen, carbon, or the hydrogen to carbon ratio of the coal, the concentration of one or more impurities or contaminants in the coal, or combinations thereof can be used to determine a desired advanced carbon material or materials to be formed from the coal. In some examples, it can be determined that the raw coal can desirably form one or more advanced carbon materials, in which case, one or all of the desired advanced carbon materials can be formed by the processes described herein.

In some examples, the raw coal can be extracted from its location in the earth or underground. The raw coal can then be subjected to one or more processes, as described herein, to form an advanced carbon material. This processing can be carried out at a location, such as a processing facility, that is at or substantially adjacent to the extraction site of the raw coal. For example, a processing facility can be located at substantially the same site as the extraction. In some examples, the processing facility can be located within about 50 miles, within about 25 miles, within about 10 miles, within about 5 miles, within about 2 miles, or within about 1 mile or closer to the site of extraction. The coal can then be beneficiated in order to remove a desired amount of impurities, for example mercury, arsenic, cadmium, other heavy metals, water, and volatile compounds. In some examples, beneficiation can include heating the coal to remove these impurities. Beneficiating can also decrease the hydrogen to carbon (H:C) ratio of the coal.

The beneficiated coal can then be processed to produce a pitch, activated carbon, and/or other precursors or advanced carbon materials. The processing can include subjecting the beneficiated coal to a pyrolysis process, direct liquefaction process, indirect liquefaction process, or processing involving one or more membranes. In some examples, these processes can produce byproducts, such as gases, solid char, and coal liquid extract, which themselves can be processed to form useful materials, such as other advanced carbon materials. For example, solid char can be processed to form activated carbon, and coal liquid extract can be processed to form aromatic compounds such as benzene and paraxylene, or pitch. The processed coal liquid extract, for example in the form of aromatics or pitch, can be subjected to further processing to form advanced carbon materials such as carbon fibers, graphene, resins, and the like.

In some cases, processing the coal, for example the beneficiated coal, can result in a pitch, resin, advanced carbon material, and/or advanced carbon material precursor that has a H:C ratio lower than an H:C ratio of the raw coal prior to processing. For example, raw coal can have an H:C ratio of from about 1 to about 0.6, in some cases about 0.8. After being subjected to a method as described herein, the resultant advanced carbon material or precursor can have a hydrogen to carbon ratio of less than about 0.5, less than about 0.2, or less than about 0.1. The low hydrogen to carbon ratio achieved by beneficiation and/or other processes described herein can improve the yield of resin, pitch, or other products formed from the coal, can eliminate the need for an external source of hydrogen during one or more processing steps, and/or reduce the amount of carbon dioxide produced during the processes disclosed herein.

In some embodiments, the pitch or materials produced by the processes described herein can be an isotropic pitch, and can be converted to a mesophase pitch by processing, as needed or desired. The pitch can then be treated to produce one or more advanced carbon materials. For example, the pitch can be spun to form carbon fibers. Alternatively, the pitch can be processed to form synthetic graphite, which can be subjected to further processing to form or produce synthetic graphene having one or more desired physical, chemical, and/or electrical properties. These advanced carbon materials can be subjected to further processing, or can be delivered to third parties for use, for example in manufacturing. In some cases, one or more advanced carbon materials can be produced and combined to form secondary material, such as a carbon reinforced polymer.

In some cases, processing the coal can include forming or producing pitch, for example, in the form of isotropic pitch, and subjecting the pitch to further processing to produce a mesophase pitch. For example, a product or precursor, such as isotropic pitch, can be heated to a temperature of from about 300° C. to about 500° C., from about 350° C. to about 450° C., or from about 380° C. to about 440° C. In some cases, the product or precursor can be heated in an inert atmosphere, for example, an atmosphere containing a noble gas such as argon. In some cases, the product or precursor can be heated in an atmosphere that does not include H₂. In some cases, the product or precursor can be agitated, stirred, sonicated, and/or subjected to a treatment to produce an emulsion before, during, and/or after being hated.

In some embodiments, one or more gases can be generated or produced during beneficiation, pitch production, and/or other processing steps, as described herein. In some examples, these gases can be captured or otherwise contained and/or used during the processes described herein. The gases captured during certain process steps can be used in subsequent process steps, for example, in the production or refinement of advanced carbon materials, as described herein. Gases produced by and a captured as part of the processes described herein can be utilized by these same or subsequent processes in order to increase the efficiency and/or cost effectiveness of the processes. These gases can be used in the formation of advanced carbon materials, as described herein, such as precursors to advanced carbon materials. Thus, in some cases, gases produced by coal, as described herein, can be used to form advanced carbon materials. In some embodiments, the captured gas or gases can include hydrogen and/or carbon. In some cases, the captured gas or gases can include sulfur. Such gases can include, for example, H₂, CO₂, CO, CH₄, C₂H₄, C₃H₆, and/or other hydrocarbon gases.

In some embodiments, one or more of the processes or process steps described herein can utilize or be carried out in the presence of one or more catalysts. For example, one or more process can include a hydrogenation catalyst. In some embodiments, the catalyst can include a metal, for example platinum. In some cases, the catalyst can be a multi-part catalyst, for example a catalyst including two or more metals. In some examples, a catalyst can include a ceramic or mineral material, for example, a silicate material, such as an aluminosilicate material. In some examples, a catalyst can include any catalytic material now known or as can yet be discovered for use in processing coal.

In some embodiments, all of the beneficiation, processing, and treatment steps described herein can be performed at a single processing facility, for example a single processing plant or compound. As used herein, the term processing facility can refer to one or more laboratories, buildings, process flows, or other apparatuses at about or approximately the same geographic location. For example, a processing facility can include a single building or factory complex at a single geographic location which includes such equipment to perform the processes and methods described herein. Further, in some cases, the single processing facility can be located substantially at or adjacent to the extraction site of the raw coal to be processed. For example, the processing facility can be located within about 50 miles, within about 25 miles, within about 10 miles, within about 5 miles, within about 2 miles, or within about 1 mile or closer.

In some examples, and as described herein, a processing facility located substantially adjacent to the extraction area of the coal, for example adjacent to an open coal mine, can allow for the production of advanced carbon materials from raw coal while minimizing the time and expense related to transporting the raw coal, intermediate products, and/or by products of the processes described herein. For example, byproducts produced by the processes described herein, such as H₂ gas, can be recaptured and utilized in other processing steps at the processing facility without the additional need to transport the H₂ gas a substantial distance. In some cases, H₂ gas can be captured and stored in a location, such as a storage tank during a first step of a process as described herein and then can be provided from the same storage tank for use used in a second, different step, or in a later repetition of the same step.

As advanced carbon materials typically have a much higher price or value to weight ratio than raw coal or intermediate products, substantial cost savings can be realized by only transporting the high value advanced carbon materials from the processing facility to, for example, a desired customer location, rather than additionally transporting precursor or intermediate materials between multiple sites prior to transporting the advanced carbon materials. Accordingly, the consolidation of the steps, methods, and processes described herein to a single location, such as a processing facility, allows for substantial cost and time savings, as compared to traditional methods for processing coal.

The advanced carbon materials that can be produced by the processes described herein can include, but are not limited to, carbon fibers, carbon foams, single-walled carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, carbon megatubes, graphite, graphene, graphite nano-platelets, nanoribbons, nanobuds, fullerenes, such as buckminsterfullerene and multi-cored fullerenes, quantum dots, activated carbon, and pyrolyzed carbon. The advanced carbon materials produced by the processes described herein can also include, but are not limited to resins and polymers, such as polyacrylonitrile, polyurethane resins, cyanate ester resins, epoxy resins, methacrylate resins, polyester resins, and others. The advanced carbon materials produced by the processes described herein can also include materials that can be used as precursors in the formation of other advanced carbon materials. In some cases, these advanced carbon materials can include alkanes, alkenes, and/or alkynes. In some cases, advanced carbon materials can include biologically useful materials or biopolymers, such as proteins, amino acids, nucleic acids, collagen, chitosan, and/or sugars.

In some embodiments, coal can be provided by any method that is now known or that can be developed in the future. For example, coal is generally extracted from naturally occurring layers or veins, known as coal beds or coal seams, by mining. Coal can be extracted by surface mining, underground mining, or various other forms of mining. Typically, coal that has been extracted via mining, but has not been otherwise processed, is referred to as raw coal. In some embodiments, raw coal can be provided to a processing facility and used to produce advanced carbon materials, as described herein. In some examples, the raw coal can be extracted via a surface mining process, such as a high wall mining process, strip mining process, or contour mining process. In some examples, the raw coal can be extracted via an underground mining process, such as by a longwall mining process, continuous mining process, blast mining process, retreat mining process, or room and pillar mining process.

The raw coal can be mined or extracted from a location substantially near to, adjacent to, or at the processing facility, as described herein. In some cases raw coal can be provided to the processing facility, as needed, to produce a desired amount of advanced carbon materials. However, in some other cases, raw coal can be provided and stored at the processing facility until it is processed.

Coal can be ranked or graded based on its contents and properties. Although a variety of coal classification schemes exist, a general metamorphic grade is used herein to generally describe raw coal. These grades are used generally to aid in the understanding of the present disclosure and are not intended to limit to types of coal which can be used to produce advanced carbon materials, as described herein. While certain classifications of coal can be preferable for use in the processes described herein, such processes are not strictly limited to the discussed classifications of coal, if any. In some embodiments, the coal utilized by the processes described herein can be lignite coal, and can have a volatile content of greater than about 45 wt. %. In some embodiments, the coal can be sub-bituminous coal, bituminous coal, and/or anthracite coal. In some embodiments, the coal can be coal extracted from the Brook Mine near Sheridan, Wyo. In some cases, the preferred coal for use in the processes described herein can be selected by the skilled artisan.

According to some embodiments, and as illustrated in FIG. 1, an advanced carbon material can be produced from coal by a method or process 100 including:

testing a composition of in situ coal at block 110;

determining one or more desired advanced carbon materials based at least in part on the testing at block 120;

extracting an amount of the in situ coal at block 130;

beneficiating the coal via a processing facility located substantially adjacent to the extraction site at block 140; and

processing at least some of the beneficiated coal via the processing facility at block 150 to produce pitch, char, gases, coal liquid extract, advanced carbon materials, and/or precursors.

Although the method 100 describes a process flow for producing a single type of advanced carbon material via a processing facility, the method 100 can be used to produce more than one type of advanced carbon material via the processing facility. For example, the method 100 can be utilized to produce an amount of a first advanced carbon material, and can subsequently be used to produce an amount of a second, different advanced carbon material. In some examples, however, the processing facility can be configured to produce two or more different types of advanced carbon materials via parallel processing utilizing the method 100.

As described herein, in situ coal, that is coal that is still deposed in its naturally occurring position, can be tested at block 110 to determine a composition of the coal. Testing the in situ coal can include extracting samples, for example by drilling one or more cores from a coal seam, and subjecting the extracted coal samples to one or more processes to determine the composition thereof. In some examples, testing can include subjecting the in situ coal to one or more processes to determine a concentration of carbon in the coal, a H:C ratio of the coal, a concentration of water in the coal, and/or a concentration or amount of one or more contaminants or impurities in the coal. As used herein, an impurity can be considered any element or compound other than carbon or hydrogen. Testing can occur using any number of diagnostic testing mechanisms including, but in no way limited to, Raman spectroscopy, abrasion testing, float-sink testing, particle size distribution testing, relative density testing, non-destructive testing, or destructive testing.

In some cases, testing at block 110 can include analyzing an amount of an impurity such as silicon, aluminum, titanium, calcium, iron, magnesium, sodium, potassium, sulfur, strontium, barium, manganese, phosphorus, antimony, arsenic, barium, beryllium, boron, bromine, cadmium, chlorine, chromium, cobalt, copper, fluorine, lead, lithium, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, selenium, silver, strontium, thallium, tin, vanadium, zinc, and/or zirconium or oxides thereof.

At block 120, one or more desired advanced carbon materials can be determined or selected to be formed from the coal based at least in part on the testing of block 110. That is, in some cases, the test data of in situ coal, such as the H:C ratio or contaminant concentration of the coal, can be used to determine one or more desired advanced carbon materials to be formed from the raw coal, according to the methods described herein. In some cases, it can be determined that the raw coal can desirously form two or more advanced carbon materials. In such cases, the coal can be used to form multiple advanced carbon materials, or a single advanced carbon material that can be additionally determined based at least partially on other factors, such as processing costs, market demand, and the like.

In some cases it can be desirous for the raw coal used to form an advanced carbon material to include one or more contaminant or impurity elements or compounds. For example, it can be desirable that the coal includes an amount or concentration of elements such as cadmium or selenium. In some cases where the advanced carbon material includes synthetic graphene, a desired amount of cadmium can be incorporated into the synthetic graphene to thereby improve the electrical, mechanical, or chemical properties thereof. Accordingly, based at least partially on the testing in block 110, it can be determined that raw coal with a desired level of cadmium or selenium can be formed into a desired advanced carbon material such as graphene. In contrast, some coal from, for example, a different position in the coal mine may not have adequate levels of cadmium or selenium and thus it can be determined that such coal can more efficiently be formed into another form of advanced carbon material as described herein.

At block 130, an amount of the in situ coal can be extracted. For example, coal is generally extracted from naturally occurring layers or veins, known as coal beds or coal seams, by mining. At block 130, coal can be extracted by surface mining, underground mining, or various other forms of mining. Typically, coal that has been extracted via mining, but has not been otherwise processed is referred to as raw coal. Thus, at block 130, raw coal can be extracted from seams or beds that have been subjected to testing at block 110. In some cases, the raw coal can be extracted via a surface mining process, such as a high wall mining process, strip mining process, or contour mining process. In some cases, the raw coal can be extracted via an underground mining process, such as by a longwall mining process, continuous mining process, blast mining process, retreat mining process, or room and pillar mining process. Any coal mining or extraction process known in the art or developed in the future can be used at block 130 to extract the coal.

At block 150, the raw coal can be beneficiated to remove contaminants or impurities such as water, heavy metals, and/or volatile compounds from the raw coal, thereby producing beneficiated or upgraded coal. The beneficiation at block 150 can occur at a processing facility located substantially adjacent to the coal extraction location as described herein. In some cases, the beneficiation process can include heating the raw coal to a desired temperature for a first duration. In some embodiments, beneficiation can also include heating the raw coal to a second, higher desired temperature of a second duration. In some embodiments, the coal can be heated in an atmosphere comprising a halogen gas. In some embodiments, beneficiation can include subjecting the raw coal to a WRITECoal beneficiation process, as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 9,181,509 which is hereby incorporate by reference in its entirety. In some other embodiments, the coal can be beneficiated by heating the coal to a desired temperature in the presence of one or more catalyst compounds. In some cases, beneficiating the coal can include pyrolyzing the coal, for example in the presence of a catalyst. In some cases, the coal can be beneficiated by the BenePlus System, as described, for example, in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2017/0198221 which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The beneficiated coal can include a significantly reduced amount of mercury, cadmium, other heavy metals, water, and/or other impurities. For example, beneficiating the coal can reduce the amount of mercury in the coal by about at least about 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, or 92% or more. In some cases, beneficiating the coal can reduce the water or moisture content of the coal to less than about 5 wt. %, 4 wt. %, 3 wt. %, 2 wt. %, 1.5 wt. %, 1.45 wt. %, 1.4 wt. %, or lower. In some cases, beneficiating the coal can remove one or more of hydrogen, sulfur, oxygen, arsenic, selenium, cadmium, or volatile matter from the coal. The amount of one or more of these elements in the coal can be reduced by from about 25% to about 90%. Additionally, the beneficiated coal can have a reduced H:C ratio as compared to the raw or beneficiated coal. For example, the beneficiation process at block 150 can reduce the amount of hydrogen in the coal. In some cases, a H:C ratio of the beneficiated coal can be less than about 0.6, less than about 0.5, less than about 0.4, less than about 0.3, less than about 0.2, or less than about 0.1 or lower.

In some cases it may be desirable for a predetermined quantity of one or more impurities to remain in the beneficiated coal after being subjected to a beneficiation process, for example based on the advanced carbon material to be produced as determined at block 120. For example, in some embodiments a beneficiation process can remove a desired amount of impurities such that a predetermined amount of cadmium, selenium, or another element can remain in the beneficiated coal after processing. In some cases, the desired amount of impurity that can remain in the coal after beneficiation can be useful in the subsequent formation of advanced carbon materials, and/or can be incorporated into the advanced carbon materials. For example, in some embodiments where the advanced carbon material includes synthetic graphene, a desired amount of cadmium can remain in the beneficiated coal and can be incorporated into the synthetic graphene to thereby improve the electrical, mechanical, or chemical properties thereof.

In some embodiments, beneficiating the coal can produce various other products that can be captured and used in later processing steps, that can be valuable in and of themselves, or that can be subjected to further processing or use in the method 100. That is, in some embodiments, beneficiating the coal can produce or separate gases or liquids from the raw coal. These gases and/or liquids can be captured or separated during processing. For example, beneficiating the coal at block 120 can produce H₂, CO₂, CO, CH₄, C₂H₄, C₃H₆, and/or other hydrocarbon gases, which can be captured and subsequently utilized in block 130 or in other process steps. In some cases, beneficiating the coal can result in liquids such as toluene or benzene which can be captured for subsequent use or processing. In some cases, the impurities removed from the coal by the beneficiation process at block 120 can be captured for subsequent use. For example, water removed from the coal by the beneficiation process can be capture and utilized in subsequent process steps. In some embodiments, beneficiating the coal can also produce a solid material known as ash or char. In some cases, this char can be subjected to further processing to form activated carbon

At block 150 the beneficiated coal, also referred to as upgraded coal, can be processed via the processing facility. In some embodiments, processing the beneficiated coal can include subjecting the upgraded coal to a liquid extraction process, such as a pyrolysis process, a direct liquefaction process, an indirect liquefaction process, or a process including one or more membranes.

In some embodiments, block 150 can include pyrolyzing the beneficiated coal via the processing facility. In some embodiments pyrolyzing the beneficiated coal can include heating the coal above a desired temperature for a duration. In some cases, the coal can be heated at high pressure and in the presence of a solvent. For example, the upgraded coal can be pyrolyzed in the presence of a CO₂ solvent which can be held in a supercritical state. In some cases, the upgraded coal can be pyrolyzed by the MuSCL System developed by TerraPower as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 10,144,874 which is hereby incorporate by reference in its entirety.

In some embodiments, the pyrolysis process can include exposing the upgraded coal to electromagnetic radiation at a desired intensity and for a desired duration. For example, block 150 can include exposing the upgraded coal to microwave and/or radiofrequency (RF) radiation for a desired duration as part of the pyrolysis process. In some cases, this pyrolysis process can result in the bulk of the upgraded coal remaining below pyrolytic temperatures, while individual particles of coal can be subjected to temperatures greater than about 1200° F. In some cases, this pyrolysis process can also include methane activation and/or methylation of at least some of the carbon comprising the upgraded coal. In some embodiments, the upgraded coal can be pyrolyzed by the Wave Liquefaction process developed by H Quest Vanguard, Inc. as described, for example, in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2017/0080399 which is hereby incorporate by reference, in its entirety.

In some embodiments, block 150 can include subjecting the upgraded coal of block 140 to a liquefaction process. In some embodiments, the liquefaction process can be a direct liquefaction process. In some other embodiments, the liquefaction process can be an indirect liquefaction process.

In some cases where block 150 includes a direct liquefaction process, the upgraded coal can be heated above a desired temperature for a duration. In some cases, the upgraded coal can be heated in the presence of one or more catalysts and/or at an elevated pressure. In some cases, the upgraded coal can be heated in an atmosphere comprising H₂. In some cases, the direct liquefaction process can be a hydrogenation or hydro-cracking process. In some cases, the upgraded coal can be subjected to a direct liquefaction process developed by Axens as described, for example, in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2017/0313886 which is hereby incorporated by reference, in its entirety.

In some embodiments, block 150 can include an indirect liquefaction process, where the upgraded coal can be converted to a gas or gases, which can then be converted to one or more liquids. For example, an indirect liquefaction process can include heating the upgraded coal to a desired temperature for a desired duration at a desire pressure, such as an elevated pressure. In some cases, this can convert at least some of the upgraded coal to a gas or gases, such as syngas, a mixture of H₂ and CO gas. In some cases, these gases, such as syngas, can then be converted to liquids or other materials. For example, the syngas can be converted to ammonia or methanol, which can in turn be subjected to further processing to produce hydrocarbons. In some cases, the gases can be processed to ultimately produce olefins, such as ethylene and propylene. In some cases, the gases can be processed to produce hydrocarbons, such as aromatic hydrocarbons. In some cases, the gases can be processed to produce hydrocarbons such as toluene, benzene, paraxylene, or other hydrocarbons, including polymers and resins. In some cases, the gases can be converted to olefins by a process developed by Honeywell UOP as described, for example, in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2015/0141726 which is hereby incorporated by reference, in its entirety. In some cases, the upgraded coal can be subjected to an indirect liquefaction process.

In some embodiments, block 150 can include processing the beneficiated coal in the presence of one or more membranes. In some cases, these membranes can serve to physically and/or chemically separate and/or crack the beneficiated coal to produce products therefrom. In some cases, these products can be substantially similar to the products produced by a liquefaction process, but may not use the amount of heat or pressure that a liquefaction process may require. Thus, in some cases, processing beneficiated coal with one or more membranes can produce substantially similar products to a liquefaction process but can require substantially less energy to do so. In some embodiments, the one or more membranes can include various pore sizes, chemical properties, physical properties, or electrical properties to isolate desirable compounds and/or produce desirable compounds from the beneficiated coal.

In some embodiments, one or more additives can be added to the beneficiated coal at block 150. In some embodiments, one or more other gases or liquids can be used during the processes of block 150. For example, hydrogen containing gases can be added to or used during a coal liquefaction process. In some cases, natural gases, CO₂, or petroleum products can be used as additives during block 150. In some embodiments, the one or more additives can include materials or compounds that are produced during block 140, or that can be produced by or captured during previous iterations of process 100.

In some cases, block 150 can further include producing pitch, char, gases, coal liquid, and/or advanced carbon materials via the processing facility. In some embodiments, pitch can be produced via the processing facility. As used herein, pitch, also known as coal pitch, coal tar, or coal tar pitch, can refer to a mixture of one or more typically viscoelastic polymers as will be well understood by the skilled artisan. In some embodiments, the pitch produced at block 150 can be a direct result of processing the beneficiated coal at step 140. The pitch produced at block 150 can include one or more high molecular weight polymers. In some embodiments, the pitch can have a melting point of greater than about 650° F. In some embodiments, the pitch can have a melting point that is high enough that the pitch can be used in a carbon fiber spinning process, for example as described herein, without the need for a plasticizer. In some cases, the pitch can be an isotropic pitch. In some cases, this isotropic pitch can be subjected to further processing at block 150, such as heating in an inert atmosphere as described herein, to form or produce mesophase pitch. As used herein, the term mesophase pitch can be refer to any pitch that is greater than about 40% mesophase. In some cases, however, the term mesophase pitch can be used to refer to pitch that includes any amount of pitch in a mesophase state.

In some embodiments, the pitch can include aromatic hydrocarbons, for example polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. In some cases, the pitch can include at least about 50 wt. % polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, at least about 60 wt. %, 70 wt. %, 80 wt. %, 90 wt. %, 95 wt. %, or 99 wt. % or greater of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. In some embodiments, the pitch can be relatively free of impurities, such as water, non-carbon atoms including sulfur or nitrogen, or material such as coal ash or char. In some cases, the pitch can include less than about 0.2 wt. % water, less than about 0.1 wt. %, less than about 0.05 wt. %, or less than about 0.01 wt. % water or lower. In some cases, the pitch can include less than about 0.1 wt. % ash or other solid material, less than about 0.05 wt. % ash or solid material, or less than about 0.01 wt. % ash or solid material. In some cases, the pitch can have a flash point greater than about 230° F., greater than about 250° F., or greater than about 300° F. In some cases, the pitch can have an API gravity of less than about 4, less than about 3, or less than about 2, or less. In some embodiments, the pitch can have a hydrogen to carbon (H:C) ratio of less than about 1, less than about 0.8, less than about 0.5, less than about 0.2, less than about 0.1, or lower. In some embodiments, the pitch can be an isotropic pitch. In some embodiments, the pitch produced by the method 100 is not coke pitch. That is, in some cases, the pitch produced is not produced from coke or a coke based material. In some embodiments, coke is not produced at any point during the method 100.

In some embodiments, char can be produced via the processing facility at block 140. As used herein, char, also known as ash, can refer to any solid material which remains after gases, liquids, and/or pitch have been removed from raw coal. For example, in some embodiments, char can be produced during the beneficiation of raw coal at block 140. In some embodiments, char can be produced by the processing of block 150. In some embodiments, char can be produced as a result of blocks 140 and 150.

In some embodiments, char can include a solid high surface area carbonaceous material. In some cases, char can have a relatively low H:C ratio, for example lower than the H:C ratio of pitch produced at block 140. In some cases, char can have an H:C ratio of from about 0.05 to about 0.65. In some cases, char can additionally include at least some pitch material, which can be referred to herein as intrinsic binder impregnation. In some cases, any residual pitch or other gaseous or liquid materials can be removed from the char prior to any subsequent processing of the char.

In some embodiments, any char produced can be subjected to further processing, for example to produce an advanced carbon material such as activated carbon. In some cases, char can be carbonized or heated, for example in a rotary kiln, as part of this further processing. In some cases the char can then be activated, for example via a physical activation process or a chemical activation process. In some cases, physical activation can include heating the char in an atmosphere comprising argon and/or nitrogen, or heating the char in an oxidizing atmosphere. In some cases, chemical activation can include impregnating the char with one or more chemicals, such as an acid, a base, or a salt. In some cases, chemical activation can further include carbonizing or heating the impregnated char to activate it. In some cases, chemical activation can require lower temperatures and less energy than physical activation. Further, in some cases, chemical byproducts produced by the method 100 can be utilized during the chemical activation process.

In some embodiments, one or more liquids can be produced via the processing facility at block 150. These liquids are referred to collectively as coal liquid extracts herein, and can refer to any material that is extracted or produced from raw coal and is liquid at or near normal temperature and pressure (about 68° F. and 1 atmosphere of pressure). For example, in some embodiments, coal liquid extracts can be produced during the beneficiation of raw coal at block 140. In some embodiments, coal liquid extracts can be produced by the processing of block 150. In some embodiments, coal liquid extracts can be produced as a result of blocks 140 and 150.

In some embodiments, one or more gases can be produced via the processing facility at block 150 and can be captured for later use or reuse. In some embodiments, these gases can be produced during the beneficiation of raw coal at block 140. In some embodiments, gases can be produced by the processing of block 150. In some embodiments, gases can be produced as a result of blocks 140 and 150. In some embodiments, the captured gas or gases can include hydrogen and/or carbon. In some cases, the captured gas or gases can include sulfur. Such gases can include, for example, H₂, CO₂, CO, CH₄, C₂H₄, C₃H₆, and/or other hydrocarbon gases. As described herein, in some cases, the captured gases produced by the method 100 can themselves be used as precursors to form advanced carbon materials. In some cases, the processing of block 150 is not carried out in an atmosphere that includes H₂.

In some embodiments, coal liquid extracts can include one or more liquid hydrocarbons. For example, coal liquid extracts can include one or more of benzene, toluene, alkanes or paraffins, alkenes, or other saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbons. In some embodiments, coal liquid extracts produced at block 150 can be subjected to further processing, for example to refine or isolate specific liquids, or to convert coal liquid extracts to other liquid compounds. For example, the coal liquid extracts can be subjected to a process to convert one or more of the coal liquid extracts to benzene and/or paraxylenes. In some cases, the coal liquid extracts can be subjected to processing to produce advanced carbon material, such as resins or polymers. In some cases, the coal liquid extracts can be processed to form polyurethane resins, cyanate ester resins, epoxy resins, methacrylate resins, polyester resins, and others.

Pitch, char, gases, and coal liquid extracts are all described as being produced at block 150, however in some embodiments, one or more of these products can be produced at separate times or separate processing steps from any other product. In some embodiments, one or more of pitch, char, and coal liquid extracts can be produced together by a process step and can need to be separated before any further processing of each individual product can occur. For example, pitch and coal liquid extracts can be simultaneously produced as a result of block 150 and may need to be separated from one another, by any process now know or which can be developed in the future, before further processing of either pitch or coal liquid extracts occurs. Accordingly, the method 100 can include a further step of separating one or more of the pitch, char, and coal liquid extracts from each other prior to or during block 150.

The pitch produced at block 150 can be treated via the processing facility to produced one or more advanced carbon materials described herein. In some embodiments, the pitch of block 150 is not subjected to further processing or refinement to alter the chemical composition of the pitch before being treated to form an advanced carbon material. However, in some other embodiments, the pitch can be subjected to one or more processes which can alter the chemical composition of the pitch at block 150. For example, impurities can be removed from the pitch. In some cases, the pitch can be subjected to one or more processes to produce mesophase pitch or otherwise alter the composition or properties of the pitch

In some embodiments, block 150 can further include spinning the pitch produced to form carbon fibers. In some cases, the pitch can be heated to a desired temperature during the spinning process, for example to about 650° F. In some cases, block 150 can include any process known in the art or developed in the future to convert pitch to carbon fibers, or carbon filament. For example, block 150 can include drawing, spinning, and heating the pitch to produce carbon fibers. In some cases, block 150 can include spinning filaments of the pitch, heating the pitch in air to a first temperature, and then heating the spun pitch in an inert atmosphere to a second, higher temperature to remove hydrogen and other volatiles and form carbon filament. In some cases, a plasticizer can be added to the pitch to aid in spinning the pitch, however in some other embodiments, plasticizer may not be added before spinning the pitch. In some embodiments, block 150 can include treating the pitch to produce one or more of any of the advanced carbon materials described herein.

In some embodiments, block 150 can include processing the pitch to form synthetic graphite. In some cases, the synthetic graphite can be subjected to further processing to form synthetic graphene. For example, in some embodiments block 150 can include treating the pitch, for example by exposure to heat, elevated pressure, and/or one or more catalysts to form synthetic graphite. As used herein, the term synthetic graphite is used to refer to any graphite material produced from a precursor material, for example any graphite material that does not occur naturally in the earth. In some embodiments, block 150 can further include treating or processing the synthetic graphite to form synthetic graphene. As used herein, synthetic graphene refers to any graphene material produced or derived from synthetically formed graphite. For example, block 150 can include subjecting the synthetic graphite to mechanical exfoliation to produce synthetic graphene.

In some embodiments, the method 100 can further include capturing at least some of the gases, liquids, or other volatile compounds which can be produced as a result of the method, 100, including blocks 110-150. In some embodiments at least 50%, at least 75%, at least 90%, 95%, or 99% of any gaseous or volatile byproducts of the method 100 can be captured. In some cases, some or all of these captured or retained gaseous or volatile byproducts can then be used in the steps of the method 100. For example, CO₂ gas can be produced by one or more of the steps of method 100, which can be captured and subsequently used in any of the steps of method 100. In some cases, the capture and reuse of byproducts can improve the efficiency and/or lower the cost of the method 100.

According to some embodiments, an advanced carbon material can be produced from coal by a method or process including:

testing a composition of in situ coal;

determining a desired advanced carbon material based at least in part on the testing;

extracting an amount of the in situ coal;

beneficiating the coal via a processing facility located substantially adjacent to the in situ coal to remove a desired amount of water, metals, volatile compounds, and other impurities from the coal;

processing at least some of the beneficiated coal via the processing facility;

producing pitch, char, gases, and/or coal liquid extract; and

treating one or more of the pitch, char, gases, and/or coal liquid extract via the processing facility to produce one or more advanced carbon materials.

According to some embodiments, and as illustrated in FIG. 2, an advanced carbon material can be produced from coal by a method or process 200 including:

testing a composition of in situ coal at a location at block 210;

determining a desired advanced carbon material at block 220 based at least in part on the testing;

extracting an amount of the in situ coal at block 230;

beneficiating the coal via a processing facility located substantially adjacent to the in situ coal at block 240 to remove a desired amount of water, metals, and other impurities from the coal;

pyrolyzing at least some of the beneficiated coal via the processing facility at block 250;

producing pitch, char, gases, and/or coal liquid extract as desired at block 260; and

treating at least one of the pitch, char, gases, and coal liquid extract via the processing facility at block 270 to produce the desired advanced carbon material.

Although the method 200 describes a process flow for producing a single type of advanced carbon material via a processing facility, the method 200 can be used to produce more than one type of advanced carbon material via the processing facility. For example, the method 200 can be utilized to produce an amount of a first advanced carbon material and subsequently used to produce an amount of a second, different advanced carbon material. In some cases however, the processing facility can be able to produce two or more different types of advanced carbon materials via parallel processing utilizing the method 200. Further, while producing pitch, char, gases, and/or coal liquid extract is described as a separate block 260, the pitch, char, gases, and/or coal liquid extract can be produced as a result of blocks 240 and/or 250 any may not be a separate process step in and of itself.

According to some embodiments, and as illustrated in FIG. 3, an advanced carbon material can be produced from coal by a method or process 300 including:

testing a composition of in situ coal at block 310;

determining a desired advanced carbon material at block 320 based at least in part on the testing;

extracting an amount of the in situ coal at block 330;

beneficiating the coal via a processing facility located substantially adjacent to the in situ coal at block 340 to remove a desired amount of water, metals, and other impurities from the coal;

subjecting at least some of the beneficiated coal to a direct liquefaction process via the processing facility at block 350;

producing pitch, char, gases, and/or coal liquid extract as desired at block 360; and

treating at least one of the pitch, char, gases, and coal liquid extract via the processing facility at block 370 to produce the desired advanced carbon material.

Although the method 300 describes a process flow for producing a single type of advanced carbon material via a processing facility, the method 300 can be used to produce more than one type of advanced carbon material via the processing facility. For example, the method 300 can be utilized to produce an amount of a first advanced carbon material and subsequently used to produce an amount of a second, different advanced carbon material. In some cases however, the processing facility can be able to produce two or more different types of advanced carbon materials via parallel processing utilizing the method 300. Further, while producing pitch, char, gases, and/or coal liquid extract is described as a separate block 360, the pitch, char, gases, and/or coal liquid extract can be produced as a result of blocks 340 and/or 350 any may not be a separate process step in and of itself.

According to some embodiments, and as illustrated in FIG. 4, an advanced carbon material can be produced from coal by a method or process 400 including:

testing a composition of in situ coal at block 410;

determining a desired advanced carbon material at block 420 based at least in part on the testing;

extracting an amount of the in situ coal at block 430;

beneficiating the coal via a processing facility located substantially adjacent to the in situ coal at block 440 to remove a desired amount of water, metals, and other impurities from the coal;

subjecting at least some of the beneficiated coal to an indirect liquefaction process via the processing facility at block 450;

producing pitch, char, gases, and/or coal liquid extract as desired at block 460; and

treating at least one of the pitch, char, gases, and coal liquid extract via the processing facility at block 470 to produce the desired advanced carbon material.

Although the method 400 describes a process flow for producing a single type of advanced carbon material via a processing facility, the method 400 can be used to produce more than one type of advanced carbon material via the processing facility. For example, the method 400 can be utilized to produce an amount of a first advanced carbon material and subsequently used to produce an amount of a second, different advanced carbon material. In some cases however, the processing facility can be able to produce two or more different types of advanced carbon materials via parallel processing utilizing the method 400. Further, while producing pitch, char, gases, and/or coal liquid extract is described as a separate block 460, the pitch, char, gases, and/or coal liquid extract can be produced as a result of blocks 440 and/or 450 any may not be a separate process step in and of itself.

FIG. 5 illustrates a material flow diagram of an example of a method 500 of producing one or more advanced carbon materials from coal in accordance with the present disclosure. At block 510, raw coal is extracted from its in situ location and provided to a processing facility located substantially at or adjacent to the in situ coal. The in situ coal can be subjected to compositional testing, as described herein, before during or after extraction, and the testing can at least partially determine a desired advanced carbon material or materials to be formed from the coal. In some cases, the coal can be extracted by, for example, a mining process such as high wall mining.

The raw coal can then be subjected to a beneficiation process to remove a desired amount of water, metals, volatile matter, and other impurities as described herein at block 520. In some cases, the beneficiation process can produce byproducts, such as char (block 542) and gases and/or coal liquid extracts (546), in addition to the upgraded coal. The upgraded coal can be subjected to a pyrolysis, direct liquefaction, or indirect liquefaction process at block 530 and as described herein to produce pitch (block 540). Again, in some cases, the pyrolysis or liquefaction process of block 540 can produce byproducts, such as char (block 542) and coal liquid extracts and gases (block 546). In some cases, the char 542 can be processed or treated at block 560 to produce an advanced carbon material, for example activated carbon (block 544) as described herein. In some cases, the coal liquid extract 546 can be processed or treated at block 570 to produce hydrocarbons, such as benzene and paraxylenes and/or other advanced carbon materials (block 548) as described herein. At block 550, the pitch can be processed or treated to produce one or more advanced carbon materials (block 580), such as carbon fibers or graphene as described herein. The method 500 can be entirely carried out at a single processing facility located substantially at or adjacent to the extraction site of the in situ coal as described herein.

Although the processes described herein relate to the production of advanced carbon materials from coal, in some embodiments these processes can be utilized to produce silicon products, such as silicone resins. For example, in some embodiments, sand or other raw materials comprising silicon can be used in the processes and methods described herein to produce one or more silicone resins.

According to some embodiments, and as illustrated in FIG. 6, synthetic graphene can be produced from coal by a method or process 600 including:

testing a composition of in situ coal at block 610;

determining a desired advanced carbon material at block 620 based at least in part on the testing;

extracting an amount of the in situ coal at block 630;

beneficiating the coal via a processing facility located substantially at or adjacent to the in situ coal at block 640 to remove a desired amount of water, mercury, cadmium, selenium, other heavy metals, and/or other impurities from the coal;

processing at least some of the beneficiated coal via the processing facility at block 650;

producing pitch, char, gases, and/or coal liquid extract as desired at block 660; and

treating at least one of the pitch, char, gases, and coal liquid extract via the processing facility at block 670 to produce desired synthetic graphite;

treating the synthetic graphite via the processing facility at block 680 to produce the desired synthetic graphene.

As described herein, a desired amount of one or more impurities can remain in the beneficiated coal at block 640 and can thereby be incorporated into the synthetic graphene produced at block 680 in order to adjust the chemical, electrical, and/or physical properties of the synthetic graphene.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the flow of energy and coal in a processing facility for the production of one or more advanced carbon materials as described herein and according to some embodiments. As can be seen in FIG. 7, and as described herein, raw coal from a mine, such as the Brook Mine in Sheridan, Wyo., can be processed to form one or more advanced carbon materials, such as carbon fiber, construction materials, and/or activated carbon via a single processing facility located at or substantially adjacent to the in situ coal.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the process flow of raw coal, for example from a high wall coal mine, as it is processed according to the embodiments described herein to form various advanced carbon materials, such as activated carbon, graphene, materials for use in batteries, and building and construction materials via a processing facility located substantially adjacent to the in situ coal. As illustrated, and according to some embodiments, processing of the coal can produce advanced carbon materials which can themselves be subjected to further processing to form other advanced carbon materials. Further, in some embodiments, the byproducts from the production of advanced carbon materials can themselves be subjected to further processing to produce other advanced carbon materials as described herein.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the process flow of raw coal to various advanced carbon material according to the processes described herein. FIG. 9 further illustrates how, according to some embodiments, the advanced carbon material produced according to the processes described herein can be utilized as one or more components in high-value finished products, such as automotive grade CFRP, or graphene based biosensors.

Advanced Carbon Materials

The methods and processes described herein can be used to produce one or more advanced carbon materials from coal. As used herein, the term advanced carbon materials can refer to one or more materials comprising carbon. In some embodiments, an advanced carbon material can be an allotrope of carbon and can consist essentially of carbon. In some embodiments, an advanced carbon material can be a resin, polymer, or other hydrocarbon material.

In some cases, an advanced carbon material can include primarily carbon atoms. In some embodiments, an advanced carbon material can include carbon fibers, carbon foams, activated carbon, and/or pyrolyzed carbon. In some embodiments, an advanced carbon material can include one or more allotropes of carbon, for example any allotropes of carbon that are known in the art or that can be developed in the future. In some cases, an advanced carbon material can include single-walled carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, carbon megatubes, carbon nanoribbons, carbon nanobuds, graphite, graphene, graphite nano-platelets, quantum dots, and fullerenes, such as buckminsterfullerene and multi-cored fullerenes.

In some cases, an advanced carbon material can include elements in addition to carbon and can be, for example, a resin, polymer, or other hydrocarbon material. For example, an advanced carbon material can include polyurethane resins, cyanate ester resins, epoxy resins, methacrylate resins, polyester resins, and others. In some cases, an advanced carbon material can include thermoset or thermoplastic polymers. In some cases, an advanced carbon material can include a polyester, vinyl ester, or nylon polymer.

In some cases, an advanced carbon material can include a biologically useful material or biopolymer. That is, in some cases an advanced carbon material can include a material including carbon that is used in biological systems or organisms, that is biocompatible, or that can typically be produced by a biological organism. For example, in some embodiments an advanced carbon material can be a protein, amino acid, nucleic acid, collagen, chitosan, sugar, or other biological material. In some cases, an advanced carbon material can include a porous material, such as a membrane, for use in a biological and/or chemical process. For example, an advanced carbon material can include perforated graphene.

In some embodiments where the advanced carbon material can include carbon fibers, the carbon fibers can have different or improved physical properties as compared to carbon fibers formed by conventional processes, for example by spinning polyacrylonitrile (PAN). In some cases, carbon fibers produced by the processes described herein can have a higher degree of molecular orientation along the fiber axis than carbon fibers produced from PAN. In some cases, carbon fibers produced by the processes described herein can have a higher elastic modulus than carbon fibers produced from PAN. In some cases, carbon fibers produced by the processes described herein can have a higher thermal and electrical conductivity than carbon fibers produced from PAN. However, in some embodiments, an advanced carbon material can include PAN, and thus carbon fibers can be produced from PAN that is formed from coal according to the processes described herein.

Applications

The advanced carbon material or materials produced via the methods and processes described herein can be used in a wide variety of applications. In some cases, the advanced carbon materials produced via the processing facility described herein can be subjected to further processing to produce objects, devices, and other products from the advanced carbon materials. In other embodiments, the advanced carbon materials can be distributed to other production facilities for use. Importantly, in some embodiments, the processes described herein can produce two or more types of advanced carbon materials which can be combined at the processing facility into further products.

In some cases, and as described herein, a first amount of pitch can be treated to produce a first advanced carbon material, and a second amount of pitch can be treated to produce a second, different advanced carbon material. In some cases, the first and second advanced carbon materials can be combined to form a new material and/or produce. For example, the first advanced carbon material can include carbon fibers and the second advanced carbon can include a polymer or resin. The first and second advanced carbon materials can then be combined via the processing facility to produce carbon fiber reinforced polymer by any process known in the art or that can be developed in the future. In some cases, the carbon fiber reinforced polymer can be formed into a desired structure, for example a part or product as specified by a customer. In some embodiments, an advanced carbon material can be produced via the processes described herein and can be combined with one or more other materials via the processing facility to produce a composite material having a desired form. For example, the advanced carbon material can include carbon nanotubes. These carbon nanotubes can then be metalized via the processing facility to produce a carbon nanotube metal matrix composite. In some cases, the carbon nanotube metal matrix composite can include a bulk material, however in some other cases the carbon nanotube metal matrix composite can be formed in a desired shape. In some cases, a carbon nanotube metal matrix composite can be formed by any processes known in the art or that can be developed in the future, such as via powder metallurgy processes, electrochemical processes, melt processes, and others.

In some cases where the advanced carbon material includes activated carbon, the activated carbon materials can be functionalized and tuned as desired. In some cases, any of the advanced carbon materials described herein can include activated carbon and/or can be functionalized, such as PAN, resins, carbon fibers, and the like. For example, in some cases an advanced carbon material produced according to the methods described herein can be functionalized to adsorb one or more predetermined materials, elements, and/or substances from water, the atmosphere, or other mediums as desired. In some cases, advanced carbon material produced according to the methods described herein can adsorb one or more types of rare earth elements produced by coal processing plants, such as the processing facilities described herein. In some cases, advanced carbon material produced according to the methods described herein can adsorb one or more valuable predetermined elements or compounds from sea water. In some cases, advanced carbon material produced according to the methods described herein can adsorb CO₂ from the ambient atmosphere.

In some embodiments where an advanced carbon material can include a resin, the resin can be subjected to further processing via the processing facility to produce a polymer part or product. In some cases, the resin can be used in a three dimensional printing process to form polymer structures such as meshes, hollow objects, solid objects, or other products. In some embodiments, a resin produced by the processes described herein can be used in a continuous liquid interface production (CLIP) process as developed by Carbon3D, Inc., to produce a wide variety of polymer objects via the processing facility. Carbon3D, Inc. uses a number of different resins to provide end products with selectable properties via the CLIP process. In some embodiments, the methods and processes described herein can be used to produce any of the resins used in the CLIP process, for example, polyurethane resins, ester resins, epoxy resins, and others. Accordingly, the processing facility can include one or more CLIP printers, such as the M2 Printer developed by Carbon3D, Inc., which can print polymer parts derived directly from coal as described herein. For example, in some embodiments, advanced carbon materials produced from coal by the processes described herein can be used in the CLIP process via the processing facility to print dental products which are customized to an individual patient's anatomy. While custom dental products are provided as an example, almost any form of three-dimensional object can be produced via the processes described herein.

For example, in some embodiments where an advanced carbon material includes one or more resins for use in 3D printing, such resins can be used to 3D print products specific to the needs of each customer. For example, such 3D printed products can have dimensions corresponding to the custom measurements of each customer. In some examples, products 3D printed using resins produced via the processes described herein can include custom helmets, pads, or other protective clothing for use in sporting activities and/or combat. In some embodiments, one or more body parts of a user or customer can be scanned and the dimensions thereof can be incorporated into the custom design of the 3D printed product. In some cases, custom 3D printed products using resins produced via the processes described herein can include custom fitted horse shoes and/or saddles.

In some embodiments, the advanced carbon material resins used in a 3D printing process can be modified on site by a user in order to achieve the desired chemical or mechanical properties of the final 3D printed product. For example, a first resin produced from coal by the processes described herein can have a first physical property in a final cured state, such as a first young's modulus. Where a user desires to adjust this property, they can be direct to add a predetermined amount of a second resin or other advanced carbon material produced from coal to the first resin, where the second resin and amount thereof can be selected based on the nature of the adjustment to the first physical property of the first resin produced from coal. For example, where a user desires a higher young's modulus, they can be directed to add a predetermined amount of a second resin produced from coal in order to raise the young's modulus of the first resin. In some cases, this addition can be carried out automatically based on the desired cured material properties of the 3D printed object.

In some embodiments, the material properties of a 3D printed objected can be varied throughout the volume of the object by utilizing two or more resins produced form coal according to the processes described herein that are UV activated, where each of the two or more resins has different material properties when cured and each is activated by a different wavelength of UV light. For example, in some embodiments a first resin produced from coal having a first material property, such as a first stiffness, can be activated by a first wavelength of UV light. A second resin produced from coal having a second, different material property, such as a second stiffness, can be activated by a second, different wavelength of UV light. The resins can be activated by UV light to form the product as it is being 3D printed, and the wavelength of the UV light can be adjusted to vary the material properties of the product as it is being printed. For example, UV light having a wavelength corresponding to the activation wavelength of the first resign can be used for those parts of the product where the material properties of the first resin are desired. The wavelength can then be varied or changed to the activation wavelength of the second resin so that the material properties of the printed object vary from the properties of the first resin to the properties of the second.

In some embodiments, a first advanced carbon material produced by the processes described herein can be used in a subsequent such process to produce a second, different advanced carbon material. For example, the first advanced carbon material can include molecular graphene membranes. The molecular graphene membranes can then be used in the processes described herein to chemically separate products of pyrolysis or liquefaction processes to produce resins. In some cases, this form of chemical separation via graphene membranes can be more thermally efficient than other separation processes that are typically employed. These resins in turn can be used in the CLIP process, for example to print a mesh.

In some embodiments where an advanced carbon material includes graphene, the graphene can be subjected to further treatment via the processing facility to form, for example, a graphene sensor. These graphene sensors can be used as disposable chips for detecting diseases via a handheld device. The graphene sensor can be able to immediately detect diseases, such as Lyme disease or the zika virus from a patient's blood, urine, saliva, or other bodily fluids or biological material, thereby eliminating any need to store blood samples for transportation to a lab. Further, the processes described herein can also be used to print the body of the hand-held device, and/or a consumable or attachment, such as a microfluidic chamber, for example via the CLIP process.

In some embodiments, advanced carbon materials produced by the processes described herein can be used in a wide variety of other applications. For example, the advanced carbon material can include a carbon foam which can be used as an electrode in a lithium ion battery. In some cases, the advanced carbon material can include activated carbon that can be used in an atmospheric CO₂ recapture process. In some cases, the atmospheric CO₂ recapture process can be carried out via the processing facility and captured CO₂ can be used in the processes described herein.

In some embodiments, advanced carbon materials, such as graphene, formed according to the processes described herein can be used to produce solar panels. In some cases these solar panels can have greater efficiencies than other conventionally produced solar panels. In some embodiments, advanced carbon materials formed according to the processes described herein can be used as precursors in electrospinning processes. For example, advanced carbon materials can be used to electrospin scaffolds or other structures having micron level resolution. In some cases the advanced carbon materials used in electrospinning can be biomaterials produced from coal according to the processes described herein. In some embodiments advanced carbon materials can be used to produce gels, for example medical grade gels such as hydrogels or silicone gels.

In some embodiments, one or more advanced carbon materials produced from coal according to the processes described herein can be used as automotive grade materials in the production of cars, trucks, or other automobiles. For example, carbon fibers, resins, and/or CFRPs can be used as automotive frames, structural components, body panels, engine blocks, and/or other components. In some cases, the components can be 3D printed and can be custom designed according to a user's preferences.

In some embodiments, one or more advanced carbon materials produced from coal according to the processes described herein can be used to form products for use in chemical or biological processes, such chromatography columns, membranes, and filters. In some cases, chromatography columns, membranes, and/or filters can be 3D printed from one or more advanced carbon materials produced from coal according to the processes described herein. In some cases, the chromatography columns, membranes, and/or filters can be used to isolate or remove antibodies, bacteria, parasites, and/or heavy metals from various solutions.

In some embodiments, one or more advanced carbon materials produced from coal according to the processes described herein can be used to form circuit boards. For example, a carbon foam produced from coal as described herein can be 3D printed to form a circuit board. In some cases a carbon foam circuit board can have superior electrical and thermal properties to typical printed circuit boards. In some embodiments, one or more advanced carbon materials produced from coal according to the processes described herein can be synthetic graphene and can be used in a variety of electronic applications, for example in forming quantum dots and in computer chips. In some cases, graphene can be used to produce biosensors that can be capable of isolating and/or identifying any number of biologically active molecules or substances, such as disease biomarkers or viruses.

In some embodiments, one or more advanced carbon materials produced from coal according to the processes described herein can include composite materials, such as metals or concrete including carbon fibers, graphene, or other advanced carbon materials. In some examples, metal including one or more advanced carbon materials such as graphene, carbon fibers, or carbon nanotubes can be 3D printed. In some examples, carbon fiber or CFRPs produced from coal as described herein can be used as rebar in concrete or can be used as other construction materials.

Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers or expressions, such as those expressing dimensions, physical characteristics, etc., used in the specification (other than the claims) are understood as modified in all instances by the term “approximately.” At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the claims, each numerical parameter recited in the specification or claims which is modified by the term “approximately” should at least be construed in light of the number of recited significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques.

In addition, all ranges disclosed herein are to be understood to encompass and provide support for claims that recite any and all subranges or any and all individual values subsumed therein. For example, a stated range of 1 to 10 should be considered to include and provide support for claims that recite any and all subranges or individual values that are between and/or inclusive of the minimum value of 1 and the maximum value of 10; that is, all subranges beginning with a minimum value of 1 or more and ending with a maximum value of 10 or less (e.g., 5.5 to 10, 2.34 to 3.56, and so forth) or any values from 1 to 10 (e.g., 3, 5.8, 9.9994, and so forth). 

We claim:
 1. A method of producing graphene or carbon fiber, comprising: extracting a coal sample from a location; performing a spectral analysis on the coal sample to detect a concentration of a contaminant in the coal sample; extracting an amount of coal from the location; beneficiating the amount of coal by heating the amount of coal to a first temperature for a first duration of time and then heating the amount of coal to a second temperature for a second duration of time, wherein the second temperature is higher than the first temperature to form solid beneficiated coal having a predetermined concentration of the contaminant; subjecting the solid beneficiated coal to a pyrolysis process or a liquefaction process to produce a coal pitch including a melting point of greater than about 650° F. (343° C.) and a flash point greater than about 230° F. (110° C.), the coal pitch comprising at least about 60 wt. % polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; and processing the pitch to form graphite and subjecting the graphite to mechanical exfoliation to produce graphene if the concentration of the contaminant is less than a predetermined level; or spinning the pitch in air while heating to about 650° F. (343° C.) to produce a spun pitch; and heating the spun pitch to a second, higher temperature in an inert atmosphere to produce a carbon fiber if the concentration of the contaminant is greater than or equal to a predetermined level, wherein the pitch is spun into carbon fiber without a plasticizer.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein performing a spectral analysis includes performing one or more of mass spectrometry, Raman spectroscopy, and x-ray spectroscopy.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein beneficiating the amount of coal includes removing an amount of water from the amount of coal.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein beneficiating the amount of coal includes removing an amount of one or more contaminants from the amount of coal.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein beneficiating the amount of coal includes decreasing the hydrogen to carbon ratio of the coal by an amount.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the contaminant comprises at least one of cadmium or selenium.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the pyrolysis process comprises exposing the solid beneficiated coal to electromagnetic radiation.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein subjecting the solid beneficiated coal to a pyrolysis process includes producing and capturing H₂.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein: the liquefaction process comprises a direct liquefaction process; and the direct liquefaction process includes heating the solid beneficiated coal above a predetermined temperature for a duration of time in the presence of a catalyst.
 10. A method of producing pitch, or activated carbon, comprising: beneficiating an amount of coal at a processing facility by heating the amount of coal to a first temperature for a first duration of time and then heating the amount of coal to a second temperature for a second duration of time, wherein the second temperature is higher than the first temperature to remove an amount of impurities from the amount of coal and to form solid beneficiated coal having a predetermined amount of impurities; subjecting a first amount of the solid beneficiated coal to a pyrolysis process or a liquefaction process at the processing facility to produce a first amount of pitch or a coal char; heating the coal char in a rotary kiln; activating the char via a physical or a chemical activation process; capturing one or more byproducts of the pyrolysis process or the liquefaction process at the processing facility while processing the coal; subjecting a second amount of the solid beneficiated coal to the pyrolysis process of the liquefaction process using the one or more captured byproducts to produce a second amount of pitch wherein the pitch includes a melting point of greater than about 650° F. (343° C.) and a flash point greater than about 230° F. (110° C.), the pitch comprising at least about 60 wt. % polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; and spinning the pitch in air while heating to about 650° F. (343° C.) to produce a spun pitch; wherein the pitch is spun into carbon fiber without a plasticizer.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the byproducts include one or more of CO₂ and H₂.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the impurities comprise at least one of cadmium or selenium.
 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the pyrolysis process comprises exposing the solid beneficiated coal to electromagnetic radiation.
 14. The method of claim 10, wherein the liquefaction process comprises a direct liquefaction process, wherein the direct liquefaction process includes heating the solid beneficiated coal above a predetermined temperature for a duration of time in the presence of a catalyst.
 15. The method of claim 10, wherein the physical activation process includes heating the char in in an oxidizing atmosphere.
 16. The method of claim 10, wherein the physical activation process includes heating the char in in an atmosphere comprising argon.
 17. The method of claim 10, wherein the chemical activation process includes impregnating the char with an acid, a base, or a salt and carbonizing the impregnated char. 